The Eastern Conference Finals has turned into a surprising dogfight of a series, and with matters deadlocked at 2-2, LeBron James and his teammates say they’re not feeling any anxiety with a huge Game 5 looming tonight in Cleveland.
The Cavs have lost two in a row to the Toronto Raptors, but they feel confident returning to their home gym.
Tristan Thompson says “There’s nobody worried about nothing" when asked about vibe before Game 5. LeBron James said there's "a calmness."
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 25, 2016
🏆TROPHIESˢᴹ🏆 | "I like the pressure. … It's going to show what our team is all about." —@KingJames is Game 5 readyhttps://t.co/QpGbEbT2vN
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) May 26, 2016
Cleveland dominated the series’ first two games, blowing out the Raps by a combined 50 points.
Per the NEOMG:
“Just a very calm moment for myself, personally,” said James, who is 6-6 lifetime in Game 5 of a playoff series tied at two games apiece, which is where the Cavs and Raptors find themselves now. […] “I relish this opportunity to be a part of the postseason once again, to be 2-2 on my home floor, so, a sense of calmness,” James said. “I think they’ll follow that.”
This is his sixth consecutive conference finals, and he’s working toward a sixth straight Finals. For what it’s worth, James’ Miami Heat twice lost Game 5 of the Eastern finals after the series was tied at two, and of course went on to win both series. […] “I’ve never been a guy to kind of dwell on the past,” James said. “I’ve always kind of lived in the present. You win some, you lose some, it’s how you put your – if I’ve given it my all I’m always satisfied with the way I played the game. I look forward to being a part of it once again. It’s a Game 5 in the Eastern Conference finals, who shouldn’t be excited about it?”
James has yet to score 30 in the 2016 playoffs (a career-long string of 12 games), but he hasn’t exactly been a wallflower, either. He went in with 29 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in Game 4, and has scored at least 20 in 22 consecutive games. He finally overtook Kyrie Irving to lead the team in scoring for the playoffs (James is averaging 24.0 points to Irving’s 23.9), and is leading the NBA in steals this post season at 2.33 per game.
